Dave Filoni on Dropping Ray Stevenson, Recasting Baylan

When Ray Stevenson died, Ahsoka season two virtually died with it. Dave Filoni, the present’s creator, was at Star Wars Celebration Japan this weekend and did a panel about his Disney+ show. Alongside the best way, the subject of Stevenson’s passing got here up and Filoni received visibly emotional. Stevenson performed fallen Jedi Grasp Baylan Skoll, a personality that clearly had a huge role to play in the way forward for the sequence—nonetheless, Filoni revealed it went a lot deeper than that.

“Season two was clearly a giant problem anyway, but it surely was a very huge problem due to a dropping Ray,” Filoni mentioned throughout the panel. “He was simply the best particular person and such an ideal spirit on the present. I knew Ray from working in voice performing with him, I simply all the time immediately linked with him and thought, ‘After I make live-action, I want this man to painting a robust Jedi Knight which have had in thoughts.’ And he didn’t disappoint in any method. Ray was probably the most lovely particular person on display and off, he was fantastic to all of us. Nonetheless huge of a loss you suppose it’s, it’s greater.”

“It was a problem for me even to think about persevering with [Ahsoka] for some time,” he continued. “However I’ve an ideal help group with Jon [Favreau] and Rosario [Dawson] and I discovered a method. I had Ray in my head and I’m grateful for all of the conversations with him about Baylan. So I understood what to do, it simply took some time to get there. However I’m very assured now that Ray can be pleased with the path that we’ve chosen.”

Season one ended with Baylan on a private quest to seek out deeper that means within the Power, with Ahsoka and Sabine scorching on his tail. However in response to Filoni, the explanation for Baylan current is extra than simply as a foul man.

“The character was meant to be vital,” Filoni mentioned. “He’s meant to be the parallel to Ahsoka in each method. If there’s a lightweight, there’s a darkish and Baylan is representing a unique journey of a Jedi that’s misplaced his method. As a lot as [Ahsoka] represents one which’s type of walked away from the Order, so did he. And that parallel is one thing that should proceed.”

Realizing he needed to proceed the story to honor Stevenson, Filoni and government producer Jon Favreau knew there was just one choice: recast the character. And as previously reported, they discovered their man in Scottish actor Rory McCann. “In essence, as a result of Ray carried out it so iconically, there’s a blueprint for what this character needs to be,” Filoni mentioned. “After which I talked to Jon and Jon and I made a decision that we simply wanted to seek out the fitting particular person that might not simply perceive the character, but additionally perceive a little bit of what Ray delivered to it as nicely. It’s one thing imperceptible. One thing simply within the eyes, to be trustworthy, and I feel we each felt very lucky that we met Rory McCann. So Rory can be taking up the position.”

Filoni mentioned that McCann, finest identified for roles in Sport of Thrones and Scorching Fuzz, is coming in with one primary aim: make the legacy of Ray Stevenson dwell on. “[Rory] takes it very critically. He’s a giant man with a giant coronary heart, and he has such respect for Ray and what he delivered to this. I do know this sole focus shouldn’t be letting Ray down and never letting you guys down. You’ll love them, and we love him and I like what he’s taking up. It’s a giant deal, so the pressure is with him.”

Ahsoka season two begins capturing by the top of April. No phrase on a launch date, however we’ve got to think about someday in late 2026.

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